My first Visit to the OG in Anaheim California suggestions for my Park Days especially the first and the last Day of my Trip in the Park(s)

[DreamCatcher777]

Hi there,

I will visiting Disneyland California for the very first time in Mid September according to my Travel Agent it should be a slower week during those few days.

My First Park Day will be starting on Saturday with Disneyland Park If I can manage to be using the magical half hour entry as on-site guest I will having around 3 and a half hours kinda to explore it. So what would you consider to me I should do and see those few time.

My Plans maybe to stuffed filled I wanted to see Main Street U.S.A. doing the full circle grand tour with the Railroad (filming it) than I would look to the new Magical Life Show of Walt Disney and using some Vehicles Transportation as well. And looking to the tiny Castle maybe doing already the Tour inside there and visiting Fantasyland doing all the Rides there especially it´s a small world since it possible closes for holiday relays after the weekend like it has done last Year????

Breakfast as well in Jolly Holiday Bakery

Do you guys think it could be possible to do also the Bayou Rides and Galaxy´s Edge explorations and Rides as well or do you think that can be too much in 3 hours 30 min. or do you think it may be is way to stuffed crafted into that time period. Since I want to Park hop to DCA after 11 a.m. (07:30-11:00 a.m. OG) and spend the rest of the Day there riding those Rides in that Park since on Sunday the Oogie Boogie Bash Party shortens the park hours windows.???

So what your assumptions suggestions is it manageable or to stuffed what else would you consider doing or seeing first time in the OG Park??? I definitely want to try to listen to the Dapper Dans as well and maybe if they returned the Marching Band not to stressed already since I will have been longer in the OG the next day on Sunday and having a full day on Tuesday from morning til midnight and few hours on my final day on Wednesday???

LLMP helps but not if you have to jump from Land to Land back and forth to getting those doesn´t fits my approach I am more the Land by Land Guy I know not as easy since not every ride has LLMP and times are sometimes not easy to catch as well.

How did you approach visits in the parks did you mix up rides and shows from the different lands or preferring also get Land by Land so many YTbers having different suggestions not sure how to make it the best way possible.

I know it isn´t easy with for me since I care for almost all the rides and skipping them seems not really a option for me even when we are having those in WDW as well but still it is special in the OG definitely has to ride all the opening attractions and looking to the shows.

But with Dining also not so easy mostly managed Dinner TS but some time having some for Lunch as well and with park closures also not as easy. Also I want to film certain things during my Vacation to having some Videos for myself and my Channel as well sharing it with friends and family.

So hope you can give me advices what suggestions you would have that would made my first time with 3 hours 30 min. and my last time on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. kinda what should I do to make it memorable and magical shopping at least has to be part on the last Day.

Characters are important as well Sunday and Tuesday seems good spots doing some of those since I spend the most time in the OG on those days. Are there more Characters during a weekend and less during the Week????

Did you think the Paint the night Show still could happen during the Halloween times or will they definitely be paused because my agent thinks since it says they are til summer 2026 but not considering that it may possible is pausing during the Halloween Season like the regular Fireworks show is replaced with Halloween Screams.

Or could there be a chance during the week without fireworks and fantasmic they could would bring Paint the Night before doing the Projection Show for Halloween ????

Are the Characters Meets and Shows in Avengers Campus and SW GE mostly during the Day but not so much on later times??? And how often are those Show elements the Avengers Stunt Shows the strolling of SW Characters in Batuu Spidey trimmed Show and so on happening have to film those as well (have to check that out in few months with times).

So quite some questions I know but some of you hopefully had the chance being multiple times in Disneyland and some may have been in late Summer time weather wise it can be hot warm (should have suncream enough to put on)

 

[irlandaise]

@DreamCatcher777 can you please say exactly how many days you'll be at the Disneyland Resort? Is it Saturday through Wednesday? If so, then you don't have to rush anything! Especially on your first day, as a first-time visitor to Disneyland, don't rush the experience! Is there some reason you need to hop over to DCA exactly at 11:00? How about spending that entire first day at Disneyland Park?

 

[irlandaise]

p.s. We love first-time Disneyland visitors on this forum! It's like visiting DL ourselves when we share in a first-timer's experience! We just sometimes need a bit more information so we can give you our best ideas for having the most magical visit!

 

[LKing]

Some things that might help us better help you.
1. Are you traveling alone?
2. Where will you be staying?
3. Why is your first day limited to 3.5 hours?
4. Do you have the budget for Lightning Lane Premium Pass?

I'm not sure what this sentence means, "But with Dining also not so easy mostly managed Dinner TS but some time having some for Lunch as well and with park closures also not as easy."

 

[Kit Jackson]

Clarification questions needed to help answer what you asked and give you good advice:
How many total days are going to be there (in the parks)?
Have you made reservations yet for the parks? (Which is your starting park for each day)?
How many days will you have early entry (and which park opens early for on-site guests on which days of your trip)?
What do you mean by Bayou Rides? There is the Tiana ride (which is officially Tiana's Bayou Adventure) but also Pirates of the Caribbean, which is the ride that passes by the tables in the Blue Bayou restaurant.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

My Plans maybe to stuffed filled I wanted to see Main Street U.S.A. doing the full circle grand tour with the Railroad (filming it) than I would look to the new Magical Life Show of Walt Disney and using some Vehicles Transportation as well. And looking to the tiny Castle maybe doing already the Tour inside there and visiting Fantasyland doing all the Rides there especially it´s a small world since it possible closes for holiday relays after the weekend like it has done last Year????

Thats a waste of early entry time. The first 3 hours after park opening are when the crowds are the lowest and the wait times are the shortest, so instead you should be packing in as much rides as possible. Leave the Disneyland Train, Magical Life Show, inside The Castle and Main Street Transportation until later.

Breakfast as well in Jolly Holiday Bakery.

There are many other places that have breakfast items, check out the menus online.

Do you guys think it could be possible to do also the Bayou Rides and Galaxy´s Edge explorations and Rides as well or do you think that can be too much in 3 hours 30 min. or do you think it may be is way to stuffed crafted into that time period.

Blue Bayou is the name of the restaurant. Pirates of The Caribbean is the ride. See my point above. It is very possible to do all the rides in Fantasyland and Pirates of The Caribbean in 3 hours. However, you need to be doing ONLY rides in that time frame.

Since I want to Park hop to DCA after 11 a.m. (07:30-11:00 a.m. OG) and spend the rest of the Day there riding those Rides in that Park since on Sunday the Oogie Boogie Bash Party shortens the park hours windows.???

Again, yes if you concentrate on rides ONLY, you can do a lot from park opening to 11am.

 

[DreamCatcher777]

Sorry I should have wrote specifics. With Dining I meant I will mostly having Table Services at Dinner Times but on Tuesday I will have Lunch and Dinner on TS makes it little bit stressful but I will have the whole day from 7:30 til midnight so shouldn´t be to much of an issue.

I will stay 5 days nights from Friday til Wednesday and having Park hopper that´s why I will hop the first two days on the weekend since DCA will having the Halloween Party on Sunday that´s why I want to hop there on Saturday since I will not having much time on Sunday because the Parks closes at 6 p.m. for non-Halloweeners.

And that´s why I will hop the Sunday after few hours from DCA to the OG since it is open til midnight. I will be the full day on Monday in DCA and the OG the full day on Tuesday as well as til noon on the last day on Wednesday.

Early Mornings are SAT DL SUN DCA MON DCA TUE DL WED DCA but don´t care for the last day since I want to say goodbye to the OG but will use the first 4 days to my advantages
hopefully.

Yeah Reservations are made for all those days. Since I planning this for a long time already but only want to make sure to get it lined up to be a logical possible thing to get through and also enjoying the time, what makes it often hard to do so.

Since I am kinda a overplanner and we can´t predict precisely the crowds or rides and such fully. I am also having the LLMP and can´t afford the new one even when I liked the Universal style they bringing in but the prices are wild and kinda nuts. I rather like to eat instead of spending such amount on money maybe next time if there will be one in the future.

Because usually I am more a Disney World preferred Parks goer than but the OG has to be on everyones bucket list imo. And since I try make cool trips I decided to celebrate with the Parks and that´s why I can´t wait visiting DL for the 70th. Hopefully I can made it for my 50th in few yrs to WDW and perhaps also for the 40th to Tokyo another amazing Park to be there.

If so I than can say I was and celebrated Disneyparks WDW 50th/ DLP 30th DL CA 70th and Tokyo 50th but have to wait and see for that last one. The Hattrick is happening sooner than later in few months and the fourth horsemen of Parks hopefully in the next decade.

I never was able to manage those early entries not in WDW or even the hour in PARIS sadly it was always not able to make it in times that is my scary thought besides not many rides are open since they even open up during those half hour what is kinda mean imo but okay it is like it is.

Maybe I should do a TRIP PREVIEW Post first? To give you some context what I am have in store for my first trip to California???

And yes I am travelling solo alone without any hesitations whatsoever I am free like a bird so hello beautiful ladies feel free make me happy jk but seriously I would love to lonesome wolf teddy bear needs some love affair.

Nethermind I meant on Saturday I have only 3,5 hours for the OG than I have to park hop because DCA is shorter open the next Day that´s why I want to use that since bought the Park hopping needs to use and utilize it that´s why the weekend do Park hopping. Because on Sunday the Halloween Party closes the DCA earlier means more fun time in the OG but on that Day I give a little bit more time for the Park.

The Main Reason are the nighttime Shows they aren´t during the week. Only that weekend and with Halloween Party no WORLD OF COLOR that´s why on Saturday without the Halloween Party it should be running that´s why I can´t stay in DL and vice versa.

On Sunday I will have to catch Fantasmic and Rise of the Moon Show at Batuu as well to get those Shows since during the week nothing happens besides only the Projection Show Halloween Screams and hopefully Paint the night.

And maybe before that show but not sure if that pauses during the Halloween season fully??? After just few weeks unless it starts in few weeks in May already and goes til Halloween kicks off??

Mid-Sept Crowds hopefully are more likely slower seasoning style but with unpredictable refurb stuff not sure if all the rides and shows happening.

Like last Year it´s a small world perhaps only is running the weekend but on Monday get closed for the holiday overlays so have to ride it definitely the first day on Saturday to make sure I catch it.


But enough I will do a Preview thing soon to make sure to give more context hope you will read it and than can give me your thoughts here to some suggestions. The full Days should be the easiest since will have plenty times in the Parks. But with Characters and such not so easy to manage all those things.

Also Dapper Dans and Marching Band should be on the list somehow and Shopping the last half day.

 

[cruisehopeful]

The only specific feedback that I have is that when you have early entrance to DCA, you'll be able to do nearly all the headliners in the first 2 hours of park opening. You are going at a lower crowd time (unless Gay Days falls in that weekend, then it'll be extra crowded) and the park will start getting full later morning 11:00ish.

Midday, when lots of people are coming in will be your best time to ride all the Main Street rides. It's also potentially very hot 90-100F hot. Wet rides and indoor rides will help from 2:00-6:00pm. You might want to try for the Oogie Boogie tickets, unless you really don't care for Halloween. It has a lot of unique characters, a short, but very good parade and the lines for DCA rides are shorter. In the evening, the Guardians of the Galaxy ride changes to Monsters After Dark and that's actually my favorite ride of all the rides in both parks.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Do you guys think it could be possible to do also the Bayou Rides and Galaxy´s Edge explorations and Rides as well or do you think that can be too much in 3 hours 30 min. or do you think it may be is way to stuffed crafted into that time period.

I don't think you'll be able to do all of that in that timeframe unless you are purchasing the Lightning Lane that doesn't have a specific return time and you can just walk up and go.

 

[DreamCatcher777]

I don't think you'll be able to do all of that in that timeframe unless you are purchasing the Lightning Lane that doesn't have a specific return time and you can just walk up and go.

Yeah with Star Wars I could buy the LLSP for Rise and using the Single Rider line for the Falcon and with luck the buddy pass on winnie pooh and mine LLMP for Tiana but also not sure if I should or could than either it is a tight timeframe on that.

 

[Geemo]

The only specific feedback that I have is that when you have early entrance to DCA, you'll be able to do nearly all the headliners in the first 2 hours of park opening. You are going at a lower crowd time (unless Gay Days falls in that weekend, then it'll be extra crowded) and the park will start getting full later morning 11:00ish.

Midday, when lots of people are coming in will be your best time to ride all the Main Street rides. It's also potentially very hot 90-100F hot. Wet rides and indoor rides will help from 2:00-6:00pm. You might want to try for the Oogie Boogie tickets, unless you really don't care for Halloween. It has a lot of unique characters, a short, but very good parade and the lines for DCA rides are shorter. In the evening, the Guardians of the Galaxy ride changes to Monsters After Dark and that's actually my favorite ride of all the rides in both parks.

Gay Days is September 12 - 14 this year

 

[DreamCatcher777]

The only specific feedback that I have is that when you have early entrance to DCA, you'll be able to do nearly all the headliners in the first 2 hours of park opening. You are going at a lower crowd time (unless Gay Days falls in that weekend, then it'll be extra crowded) and the park will start getting full later morning 11:00ish.

Midday, when lots of people are coming in will be your best time to ride all the Main Street rides. It's also potentially very hot 90-100F hot. Wet rides and indoor rides will help from 2:00-6:00pm. You might want to try for the Oogie Boogie tickets, unless you really don't care for Halloween. It has a lot of unique characters, a short, but very good parade and the lines for DCA rides are shorter. In the evening, the Guardians of the Galaxy ride changes to Monsters After Dark and that's actually my favorite ride of all the rides in both parks.

Unfortunately those wild Days happening on that specific Weekend sadly but I hoped it wouldn´t be too much. Are there usually a lots of those??? I thought they may would join the Halloween Party instead mostly since it is easier getting dressed out there and enjoy the party there rather than but should I be worried in the OG that they would invade Disneyland and wait times can be cruel since there would be so many extra through that????

 

[cruisehopeful]

Gay Days is September 12 - 14 this year

That's definitely Mid September.
OP, Gay Days is super fun, but it is one of the most crowded weekends of the entire year! Things like buying a snack and finding a place to sit are going to be tough.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I thought they may would join the Halloween Party instead mostly since it is easier getting dressed out there and enjoy the party there rather than but should I be worried in the OG that they would invade Disneyland and wait times can be cruel since there would be so many extra through that????

The party will sell out quickly because of the event. The hotels will be packed. I remember checking into the Grand once and the desk agent said that the hotel was completely full and that rarely happens. We couldn't find a place to sit anywhere in the lobby or outside at the hotel when we wanted to have a relaxing arrival drink.

Disneyland will be packed the entire weekend as will all the hotel restaurants, etc. This is a huge event. Even without Gay Days, when DCA closes for the event, Disneyland gets packed with all the people who weren't able to get tickets for the party. With all the extra people for Gay Days, it'll be a lot fuller. I'd just pay for the expensive lightning lane if I were going then.

 

[DreamCatcher777]

That's definitely Mid September.
OP, Gay Days is super fun, but it is one of the most crowded weekends of the entire year! Things like buying a snack and finding a place to sit are going to be tough.

Damn I feared that, than how it should be that funny I am straight and it is the exactly weekend I am there unless there are a lot of beautiful bi-girls real ones not fake ones but I don´t mind but it doesn´t sound good for wait times. I knew I would be disappointed damn, does it mean I shouldn´t hope getting on all the rides.???

Did it lasted til park closing or could it be less crowded later on??? Is it in both Parks like that or mostly in the OG???

 

[LKing]

Here is the calendar of events happening in 2025.

Thread 'Disneyland Resort Calendar 2025'

Mar 6, 2025

I'm going to attempt to consolidate all of the official events and unofficial events happening at DLR this year.

I will need help. If you see a large convention, dance show, or event that might impact the resort, please let me know. I will try to update the first few posts as we go.

Disneyland Resort 2025 Event Dates and Details




January
January 1-6 Holidays
January 21, 23, 28 Sweetheart's Nite
January 24 Anaheim Ducks Day
January 15-31 Lunar New Year

February
February 1-2 Run Disney
February 1-16 Lunar New Year
February 4,6, 9, 11, 13...

• LKing
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Disneyland (California)

• 
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[DreamCatcher777]

But to make it clear I don´t mind or having a problem that they will have their days but I wish it would have been a weekend after but if what I read is true it seems Saturday will be where they may will be mostly and on Sunday they will be in DCA so my park hopping could mean I could be lucky and the crowds will not be that problematic if it is true since I will be on the opposite parks during their peak times.

So will see as long as I will be able to ride enough rides in both Parks on both days I will be happy cuz squeezing to much on my full days wouldn´t be to much fun so hopefully I will be able to do some rides already on that cases and getting up early enough for the extra half hour as well will would help.

 

[Geemo]

But to make it clear I don´t mind or having a problem that they will have their days but I wish it would have been a weekend after but if what I read is true it seems Saturday will be where they may will be mostly and on Sunday they will be in DCA so my park hopping could mean I could be lucky and the crowds will not be that problematic if it is true since I will be on the opposite parks during their peak times.

So will see as long as I will be able to ride enough rides in both Parks on both days I will be happy cuz squeezing to much on my full days wouldn´t be to much fun so hopefully I will be able to do some rides already on that cases and getting up early enough for the extra half hour as well will would help.

Knowing when the various events are scheduled can help for planning a trip to the parks.

Gay Days Weekend both parks will be crowded. Most attending for the event will be in the one park at the time the group photo is set to be taken.

You should go expecting for the weekend to be BUSY and plan to go with the flow as the days unfold.